Clostridioides difficile infections in seven Brazilian hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: hand hygiene and antimicrobial consumption.

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence density of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs), hand hygiene adherence, and antimicrobial consumption across Brazilian hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. An ecological study was conducted in seven Brazilian hospitals from June 2018 to December 2019 (pre-pandemic) and from June 2020 to December 2021(pandemic). Data on CDI incidence density, hand hygiene adherence, and antimicrobial consumption were collected. CDI incidence was assessed based on the number of monthly cases and the incidence density rate per 10,000 patient-days. This study involved hospitals from four states and included three public and four private institutions. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test in R (p < 0.05). Time series analysis used joinpoint regression to determine monthly percent change, average monthly percent change, and 95% confidence intervals. Although statistically insignificant, an upward trend occurred in CDI incidence (p = 0.081) from the pre-pandemic to the pandemic periods. Consumption of azithromycin (p < 0.01) and levofloxacin (p < 0.01) increased significantly, whereas ceftriaxone use decreased (p = 0.0038). The joinpoint regression analysis of antimicrobial consumption trends during the pandemic showed trend changes for vancomycin and meropenem defined daily dose, with higher consumption during the second wave of COVID-19 in Brazil. Hand hygiene adherence failed to differ significantly but showed a downward trend in 2020 and 2021. The dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in protective measures may have influenced CDI incidence and antimicrobial consumption patterns across the study period.